Kangwon Land Inc., operator of the only South Korean casino serving locals, has won a new three-year gaming license, from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023. The license renewal was approved December 28 by the country’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reports GGRAsia.
In terms of gaming inventory and operating hours, the terms of the new license are the same as those in force when Kangwon Land reopened for VIPs only in May, following a Covid-19 shutdown that lasted from February 23 to July 20. The casino can operate 20 hours per day with 180 gaming tables, 169 slot machines and 1,191 other electronic games.
The casino closed again from August 21 to October 12 and a third shutdown, which started December 8, is ongoing until at least January 17.
In related news, Grand Korea Leisure Co. Ltd. (GKL), which operates foreigner-only casinos in South Korea, said its three casinos in Seoul and Busan lost a combined KRW16 billion (US$14.6 million) due to the most recent shutdown. Paradise Co. Ltd., another foreigner-only casino operator, extended the closure of its casinos due to a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.
According to the country’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of December 28, the national tally of confirmed cases had reached 58,725, including 859 fatalities.
